198 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



contained few uncommon plants, being chiefly used for 

 forcing rhododendrons, azaleas, roses, and other ornamen- 

 tal shrubs, in the winter months. 



The environs of Rouen are well known to be both beau- 

 tiful and fertile. Great quantities of fine pears are here 

 produced ; crasannes, chaumontelles, colmars, St Germains, 

 and bonchretiens: of these last it is often literally true that 

 ** The branch here bends beneath the weighty pear." 



Considerable quantities of the pears are sent to the Lon- 

 don market ; and at Dueler, ten miles westward from 

 Rouen, most of the Normandy rennets which go to Eng- 

 land, are raised. 



Heavy rain having again come on, we could not ascend 

 the Hill of St Catherine, the view from which, in a fine 

 day, is said to be delightful *. 



Rouen to Dieppe, 

 Oct. 2. — To-day we proceeded to Dieppe. Fruit-trees 

 continued, for a great part of the way, to line the road, 

 and to form the divisions of the fields and pastures. They 

 were chiefly apples ; but some pear-trees appeared, and a 

 few plums. In one place we had an opportunity of seeing 

 people planting rape, on a field which had this year borne 

 a corn crop. The ground is twice plowed : at the second 

 plowing, a row of plants, at a foot distant from each other, 



• In the beginning of August 1821, I had an opportunity of ascending 

 the Hill of St Catherine on a clear day ; and I would recommend doing so, 

 to all who visit Rouen, the prospect being exceedingly rich and varied. The 

 botanist may, in his walk, pick up several herbaceous plants not to be found 

 in Britain : Among these are Digitalis lutea, Sideritis scordrodes, and Lina- 

 ria supina. Asperula cynanchica, Tcucrium chamaedrys, and Linaria re- 

 pens, are spread over the hill. Near the top, a Scotsman will not be dis- 

 pleased to remark two of his native heaths, Calluna vulgaris and Erica cine- 

 rea, with some bushes of furze or whins— N. 





